# CVE-2021-32521: QSAN Storage Manager, XEVO, SANOS - Use of Hard-coded Password

> Local attackers can escalate privileges by using the MAC address as a hard-coded password in QSAN storage management software.

- **Severity:** High 7.3 (`CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:N/UI:N/S:U/C:L/I:L/A:L`)
- **Exploited in the wild:** Not known
- **Login needed:** Not needed
- **Attackable:** Over the internet
- **Victim action needed:** Not needed
- **Fix available:** No
- **Published:** 7 Jul 2021
- **Updated:** 16 Sep 2024
- **Also known as:** GHSA-gfjp-9255-98gh

## What is CVE-2021-32521?

CVE-2021-32521 is a high-severity vulnerability in QSAN SANOS, published on 7 Jul 2021. An attacker can exploit it over the internet without logging in, with no action from the victim.

### Official description

Use of MAC address as an authenticated password in QSAN Storage Manager, XEVO, SANOS allows local attackers to escalate privileges. Suggest contacting with QSAN and refer to recommendations in QSAN Document.

Weakness: CWE-798 (Use of Hard-coded Credentials), CWE-259 (Use of Hard-coded Password)

## Which versions are affected by CVE-2021-32521?

It affects 3 products.


Products: Qsan Sanos, Qsan Storage Manager, Qsan Xevo.

## How do I fix CVE-2021-32521?

No fix has been published for CVE-2021-32521 yet. Limit exposure of the affected software until one is available.

## Is CVE-2021-32521 being exploited?

There is no known exploitation of CVE-2021-32521 in the wild and no public exploit code.

## Other vulnerabilities in QSAN SANOS

- [CVE-2021-32519](https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2021-32519/): QSAN Storage Manager, XEVO, SANOS - Use of Password Hash With Insufficient Computational Effort (critical 9.8)
- [CVE-2021-32522](https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2021-32522/): QSAN Storage Manager, XEVO, SANOS - Improper Restriction of Excessive Authentication Attempts (critical 9.8)
- [CVE-2021-32529](https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2021-32529/): QSAN XEVO, SANOS - Command Injection -1 (critical 9.8)
- [CVE-2021-32533](https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2021-32533/): QSAN SANOS - Command Injection (critical 9.8)
- [CVE-2021-32534](https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2021-32534/): QSAN SANOS - Command Injection (critical 9.8)

## Fix prompt for AI coding agents

```text
Check this codebase for CVE-2021-32521 and fix it if it is affected.

What it is: CVE-2021-32521 is a high-severity vulnerability in QSAN SANOS, published on 7 Jul 2021. An attacker can exploit it over the internet without logging in, with no action from the victim.
Exploitation: There is no known exploitation of CVE-2021-32521 in the wild and no public exploit code.

Affected product: QSAN SANOS. No package-level version data is available, so check the vendor advisory linked from the reference page.

Task:
1. Search the dependency manifests and lockfiles (for example package.json, package-lock.json, requirements.txt, poetry.lock, uv.lock, pom.xml, build.gradle, go.mod, Cargo.lock, Gemfile.lock) and any Dockerfiles for the affected packages, including transitive dependencies.
2. If an affected version is in use, upgrade it to the fixed version for its release line with the project's package manager, so the lockfile is regenerated. Prefer the smallest upgrade that fixes it.
3. If there is no fix, or the upgrade would break the build, do not guess: explain the risk and the safest workaround instead.
4. Run the tests and summarise what changed and why.
5. If nothing in the project is affected, say so and change nothing.

Reference: https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2021-32521/ (Markdown: https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2021-32521/index.md)
```

## Sources

- CVE record: https://www.cve.org/CVERecord?id=CVE-2021-32521
- NVD: https://nvd.nist.gov/vuln/detail/CVE-2021-32521
- OSV: https://osv.dev/vulnerability/CVE-2021-32521

---
From sbomify Insights: https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2021-32521/
Summaries are generated and may contain mistakes; the official description above is the record.